Compressed air operated dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A product container having a valve stem is coupled to the first of two flow passages in a coupler-aspirator. The flow passages join at a nozzle. The second flow passage communicates with a first chamber. A guide fits over and extends above the product container and has ridges on the interior thereof. Notched winged portions of the coupler-aspirator are retained on the ridges. A cylinder having a second chamber is coupled to the coupleraspirator and positioned therebetween is a flexible annular gasket. A hollow valve stem having radial openings is mounted for movement within the chambers. The inner periphery of the gasket obturates the radial openings. A piston slides within the cylinder. Integral with the piston is an actuating member, and integral with the actuating member is a downwardly extending flange concentric around the piston. The bottom of the flange is beveled to mate with the beveled upper edges of the winged portions of the coupler-aspirator.

United States Patent 91 Marand [4 1 May 15, 1973 COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSING SYSTEM [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Jean Marand, Saint-Benoit, France A product container having a valve stem is coupled to 73 A I Cib the first of two flow passages in a coupleraspirator. Sslgnee NYa' Gmgy Corporation Ardsley The flow passages join at a nozzle. The second flow passage communicates with a first chamber. A guide Flledi 1970 fits over and extends above the product container and [2]] Appl- 90,897 has ridges on the interior thereof. Notched winged portions of the coupler-aspirator are retained on the ridges. A cylinder having a second chamber is coupled [52] US. Cl. ..239/349, 239/357, 222/193 to the couplepaspirator and positioned therebetween [51] Iltt. CI. ..B05b 7/30 is a flexible annuar gasket A m valve Stem [58] Fleld of Search ..222/40l, 400.8, I93, mg radial p g is mounted for movement hi 222/4 239/349 the chambers. The inner periphery of the gasket obtu- 361 rates the radial openings. A piston slides within the Y cylinder. Integral with the piston is an actuating [56'] References cued member, and integral with the actuating member is a UNITED STATES PATENTS downwardly extending flange concentric around the piston. The bottom of the flange is beveled to mate 3,369,757 2/1968 Boris ..239/355 with the beveled upper edges of the winged portions of the coupler-aspirator. Primary Exammer-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon, Jr. 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Attorney- Karl F. J orda PATENTED HAY] 5M5 SHEET 1 BF 2 QQQ FlC-ul INVENTOR JEAN MARAND ATTORNEYS PATENTEU 1 5 I973 SHEET 2 [IF 2 &

INVENTOR J EAN MARI-\ND ATTORNEYS COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispensing system of the type wherein a predetermined quantity of product is aspirated through a coupler-aspirator by means of compressed air.

More particularly, the present invention relates to such a system wherein the coupler-aspirator is coupled to a product container and an air compressing assembly is coupled to the coupler-aspirator.

The present invention is related to the dispensing system disclosed in applicants copending application Ser. No. 43,417, filed June 4, 1970. In the said copending application is disclosed a dispensing system of the type wherein a product is housed in a product container separate from a propellant. The product container has a valve therein which is coupled to a coupler-aspirator. The coupler-aspirator is also coupled to the stem of the valve of a propellant cartridge which is positioned above the coupler-aspirator and the product container. When the top of the propellant cartridge is depressed, both the valve thereof and the product container valve are opened and the product is aspirated through the coupler-aspirator by the propellant cartridge which must periodically be replaced when empty. This of course is costly.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a dispensing system of the type disclosed in the said copending application wherein an air compressing assembly is used to aspirate the product through the coupIer-aspirator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a dispensing system wherein the necessity or providing a chemical propellant or propellant cartridge is eliminated.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide such a dispensing system which may be inexpensively manufactured by routine molding tech niques.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a coupleraspirator having two flow passages therein which communicate with a nozzle insert. The first of these flow passages couples to and is adapted to communicate with the stem of the valve of a product container. A guide is provided which fits over the top of the product container and encloses the coupler-aspirator. The coupler-aspirator has notched wing portions which are retained by ridges on the interior of the guide. Thecoupler-aspirator extends toward and sprays through a hole in the guide.

A compressed air piston-cylinder assembly is pro vided which includes a cylinder which couples to the coupler-aspirator. Between an inwardly extending flange of the cylinder and the coupler-aspirator is positioned a flexible annular gasket. A hollow valve stem having radial openings therein is positioned for longitudinal movement within a chamber formed in the coupler-aspirator and in communication with the second flow passage. The inner periphery of the gasket serves to obturate the radial openings of the valve stem. A piston is adapted to slide within the cylinder. Integral with the piston is an outwardly extending flange which forms an actuating member. Integral with the actuating member is a downwardly extending flange which is concentric around the piston. The downwardly extending flange is adapted to slide within the inner surface of the guide.

The lower surface of the downwardly extending flange is beveled to contact the beveled upper surface of the notched wing portions of the coupler-aspirator to thereby force the wing portions off the ridges of the guide. As the actuating member is depressed, the piston slides down within the cylinder, compressing the air therein. When the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder and maximum air compression is achieved, the valve stem is forced downwardly thereby causing the radial openings to be unblocked. The compressed air within the cylinder is then open through the radial openings, into the second flow passage of the coupleraspirator and into the nozzle thereof. As the piston is moved downwardly, so is the downwardly extending flange. When the beveled edge portion of the downwardly extending flange contacts the wing portions, the wing portions are forced away fromthe ridges on the interior of the guide. The coupler-aspirator is then free to be moved downwardly with the continued application of force to the actuating member. As this occurs, the product container valve is opened. Thus, the product is free to flow through the product container valve into the'first flow passage in the coupler-aspirator and through the nozzle. Therefore, the compressed air will aspirate the product through the coupIer-aspirator.

Other objects and features of the invention will be made clear with the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view partially in elevation and partially in cross-section of the novel dispensing system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in elevation and partially in cross-section of the dispensing system of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the dis pensing system in the actuated position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the high pressure valve used in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FlG.'l.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to the drawings, the dispensing system of the present invention will be described in detail. The product container I contains a suitable product or products to be dispensed. Extending through product container 1 is a product container valve 2 having a valve stem 2a. Suitable flow passages (not shown) provide communication with the interior of product container 1 to the valve stem 2a. A coupIer-aspirator 3 has therein first and second flow passages 4 and 5, respectively, which meet at a Venturi nozzle insert 6. The coupler-aspirator 3 is coupled to product container valve stem 2a to provide communication of first flow passage 4 therewith. Second flow passage 5 of coupleraspirator 3 communicates with a chamber 7. A cylinder 8 having a chamber 9 therein is coupled to coupler aspirator 3. An inwardly extending flange 10 of cylinder 8 cooperates with the top of coupler-aspirator 3 to position a flexible annular gasket 11 therebetween. A valve stem 12 is positioned to slide within chambers 7 and 9. Stem 12 has a longitudinal channel 13 therethrough and radial openings 14 which extend into channel 13. The valve stem is positioned such that the inner periphery of gasket 11 obturates radial openings 14.

A guide 15 is adapted to fit over product container 1 by any suitable means such as a snap fit. The interior surface of guide 15 has oppositely disposed ridges l6 thereon, and coupler-aspirator 3 has oppositely dis-.

posed notched wing portions 3a connected by bridge portions 3b. The notches of wing portions 3a are adapted to contact and rest upon ridges 16 of guide 15 to provide support for coupler-aspirator 3.

A longitudinal piston 17 is positioned to slide within cylinder 8. Extending longitudingally through piston 17 is an air return passage 18. Integral with the top of piston 18 is an outwardly extending flange 19 which forms an actuating member. Integral with actuating member 19 is a downwardly extending flange 20 which is concentric around piston 17. The outer periphery of downwardly extending flange 20 is laterally supported by the interior of guide 15. The bottom edge of downwardly extending flange 20 is beveled as at 20a and is adapted to mate with beveled surface 30 of winged portions 3a of coupler-aspirator 3. A spring 21 is provided to urge piston 17 in the upward direction as shown in the drawings. Alternatively, handles 22 may beformed integrally with actuating member 19 such that the piston 17 might be manually moved upwardly thereby eliminating spring 21. As shown in FIG. 2, coupler-aspirator 3 extends to and sprays through an opening 15a in guide 15.

The operation of the dispensing system of the present invention will now be described. The unit is generally grasped around guide 15. The operator places a thumb or finger over air return passage 18 and applies force thereby in the general direction of arrow 23 to the actuating member. This causes piston 17 to be moved downwardly in chamber 9 of cylinder 8 thereby compressing the air therein. As the bottom of piston 17 reahes the bottom of chamber 9, valve stem 12 is forced downwardly. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, radial openings 14 are thus unblocked. The compressed air within chamber 9 is thus in communication through passage 13, radial openings 14, chamber 7, and second flow passage into nozzle 6. Also, as piston 17 moves downwardly, flange 20 moves downwardly, When contact is made between beveled edge 20a of flange 20 and beveled edges 3c of wing portions 3a, the wing portions are forced inwardly. Further force applied to actuating member 19 causes coupler-aspirator 3 to be moved downwardly through contact with cylinder 8. This forces valve stem 2a downwardly, thereby opening product container valve 2. Communication of the product or products is thus open through stem 2a and first flow passage 4 into nozzle 6. The product is thus aspirated through the coupler-aspirator by the compressed air. A clearance is provided between the inner surface of guide and the outer surface of flange to allow air compressed within guide 15 during descent of the actuating member to escape. Opening 15a also serves this purpose. However, if necessary, additional apertures 24 in guide 15 may be provided for this purpose. Upon removal of the force 23, the actuating member is moved upwardly to its original position either by the force of spring 21 or manually by means of handles 22. As piston 17 is moved upwardly within chamber 9, a vacuum will be created therein. However, air return passage 18 allows access of atmospheric pressure into chamber 9.

It is to be understood that when the product or products have been exhausted, the remainder of the dispensing system may be transferred to a new product container, or the present product container may be refilled.

It is to be further understood that all of the various elements of the present invention may be made of any convenient or desirable material such as plastic. These elements can easily be made by conventional modling techniques, thus making possible the provision of such a device at a low cost.

It is to be further understood that the quantitiy of product delivered can easily be controlled by modifying the size of piston chamber 9, thereby enabling compression of more or less air. Also, the sequence of opening of the valves may be controlled by modifying the length of piston 17 with respect to flange 20, That is, flange 20 may be lengthened relative to piston 17, whereby product container valve 2 is depressed before the valve stem 12.

It is to be even further understood that although the seal between cylinder 8 and piston 17 has been disclosed as a sliding friction fit, the desired fit may be achieved with gaskets. Also, even though the various elements of the air compressing assembly have been shown as cylindrical, it is to be understood that these elements could have any desired shape generated by a straight line moving parallel to an axis, for instance, a rectangular shape.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, such description is intended to be illustrative only, and not restrictive, since many details of the construction of the invention may be altered or modified without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device comprising: a coupleraspirator having first and second coupling means, said coupler-aspirator having a product flow passage therethrough and a compressed air flow passage therethrough, valve means associated with said coupleraspirator for obturating said compressed air flow passage, and aspirating means in said coupler-aspirator for bringing one end of each of said flow passages together, the other ends of the flow passages opening out of the coupler-aspirator through the respective coupling means remote from said aspirating means; a cylinder assembly having a cylinder with one end coupled to the coupling means around the end of the compressed air flow passage, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having a portion extending out of the other end of said cylinder; and a product container coupled to the coupling means at the end of the product flow passage remote from the aspirating means; said valve means in said compressed air flow passage being engageable by said piston at the end of the stroke of the piston for moving said valve means relative to said coupler-aspirator for opening said compressed air flow path only after said piston is moved to the inner end of said cylinder adjacent said valve assembly.

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide fitting over and extending above said product container, said guide having ridges on the inner surface thereof, and said coupler-aspirator having notched wing portions adapted to be retained by said ridges.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coupler-aspirator has a first chamber therein in communication with said compressed air flow passage,

and said cylinder has a second chamber therein coupled to said second coupling means and a flexible annular gasket positioned therebetween.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said valve means comprises a hollow valve stem having.

radial openings therethrough mounted for movement within said chambers, the inner periphery of said gasket obturating said radial openings.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide has an opening therein through which said coupler-aspirator extends and sprays.

8. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said piston has an air return passage therein. 

1. A dispensing device comprising: a coupler-aspirator having first and second coupling means, said coupler-aspirator having a product flow passage therethrough and a compressed air flow passage therethrough, valve means associated with said coupleraspirator for obturating said compressed air flow passage, and aspirating means in said coupler-aspirator for bringing one end of each of said flow passages together, the other ends of the flow passages opening out of the coupler-aspirator through the respective coupling means remote from said aspirating means; a cylinder assembly having a cylinder with one end coupled to the coupling means around the end of the compressed air flow passage, a piston slidable in said cylinder and having a portion extending out of the other end of said cylinder; and a product container coupled to the coupling means at the end of the product flow passage remote from the aspirating means; said valve means in said compressed air flow passage being engageable by said piston at the end of the stroke of the piston for moving said valve means relative to said coupler-aspirator for opening said compressed air flow path only after said piston is moved to the inner end of said cylinder adjacent said valve assembly.
 2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide fitting over and extending above said product container, said guide having ridges on the inner surface thereof, and said coupler-aspirator having notched wing portions adapted to be retained by said ridges.
 3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coupler-aspirator has a first chamber therein in communication with said compressed air flow passage, and said cylinder has a second chamber therein coupled to said second coupling means and a flexible annular gasket positioned therebetween.
 4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said valve means comprises a hollow valve stem having radial openings therethrough mounted for movement within said chambers, the inner periphery of said gasket obturating said radial openings.
 5. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said a piston is slidably mounted within said second chamber and includes an actuating member integral with said piston, and a downwardly extending flange integral with said actuating member and concentric around said piston.
 6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top of said winged portions and the bottom of said downwardly extending flange are beveled, whereby as said actuating member is depressed said Downwardly extending flange is adapted to move said winged portions off said ridges.
 7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide has an opening therein through which said coupler-aspirator extends and sprays.
 8. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said piston has an air return passage therein. 